SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Appears in three forms: a chronic pulmonary form with cough, mucopurulent discharge; Farcy, a form characterized by multiple abscesses in the skin, subcutaneous tissues and lymphatics; an acute septicemic form with fever, chills, prostration and death in 7-10 days

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Has disappeared from most regions of the world; enzootic foci in Asia and eastern Mediterranean countries; sporadic cases in the Western hemisphere in those whose occupations involve contact with infected equines or work in laboratories

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives in water at room temperature up to 30 days

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms and isolate patients; use mallein in intrapalpebral test to detect infected equines for slaughter; isolate and characterize organism to confirm

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer antibiotic therapy

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: None

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Twenty cases were reported with 7 deaths up to 1976; a centrifuge accident led to 4 cases with 1 death; six cases were reported due to mouth pipetting; one USA case reported in May 2000, researcher working on a vaccine for glanders

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 3 practices and containment for activities utilizing infectious body fluids, tissues and cultures; Agriculture Canada may impose additional requirements or restrictions on the use of this agent

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves and gown with ties in back and tight wrist when working with infectious materials

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Heavy protective gloves and face shields to protect from infectious droplets and tissue fragments when working with infectious animals; appropriate protection from aerosols

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled and stored in a level 3 facility

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: November 1999

Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC

Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.

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